The Mail reports that the child, identified only as 'Ashley' was one of a group of children playing a 'doctor' game on their housing estate back in April when she was nine. A parent called the mum of a four-year-old boy who was playing with the group to express concern about what was happening.

Houston police claim that Ashley had been 'inappropriately touching' the child.

The legal representative looking after Ashley and her family told Fox 26 they had never before dealt with such a young child being accused of a crime of this nature. Quanell X told Fox that the incident was 'nothing more than inappropriate horseplay that has now led to a child that is 10 years old being charged with aggravated rape'.

Ashley's mum said it was all a 'nightmare' and that 'just the thought of her going through something like this' hurts her.

Ashley will face charges in court in October. Her mum was reportedly barred from sitting in on her initial 45-minute police questioning.